The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation Needs Your Stories

If you or your family has been affected by Sjögren’s Syndrome, please take a few minutes to share your story with the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation (SSF) and lend your voice to their advocacy efforts as they testify on Capitol Hill next week. Representatives from the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation have been invited to speak to the U.S. House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee about the cost burden of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and products that are vital to the treatment of Sjögren’s.

The SSF is looking for brief stories about how aspects of Sjögren’s that call for OTC treatments affect your life and how the cost of OTC items has caused an undue burden on you and your family. In addition to OTC products such as lubricating eye drops and gels, other products such as humidifiers, moisture-retaining goggles, and PROSE supplies are essential to include in your cost calculations.

This congressional hearing specifically addresses the fact that patients now have to obtain prescriptions for OTC drugs and products to count toward Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts. Achieving the recognition by Congress that Sjögren’s patients have medically necessary OTC costs is an important step in helping the SSF fight in the future for federal tax deductions, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and, finally, insurance coverage of these OTC costs.

Put a personal face on the burden of Sjögren’s for this very important hearing by emailing your story to etrocchio@sjogrens.org with the Subject Line: SSF Congressional Hearing. Your contribution to this effort is greatly appreciated.